Effects of inelastic electron scattering on properties of high-temperature superconductors

The inelastic electron scattering rate $\frac{1}{{\tau }_E}\mathrm{}\left(T\right)\mathrm{}$ in the high-temperature oxide superconductors is probably much larger than $k_B\frac{T_c}{\hslash }$ near $T=T_c$, and, therefore, will affect many properties, in contrast to low-$T_c$ superconductors in which the rate is negligible. We show for example that the temperature dependence of $\frac{1}{{\tau }_E}$ results in an upward curvature near $T_c$ in $J_c^{\frac{2}{3}}\mathrm{}\left(T\right)\mathrm{}$, where $J_c$ is the critical current density calculated in the framework of Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer. Effects on the superconducting density of states are discussed.